Chester Zoo experts help endangered Mountain Bongos arrive in Kenya in conservation boost
Four critically endangered mountain bongos, Africa’s rarest species of antelope, have touched down in Kenya in a major step forward in efforts to save the species from extinction.
The four male mountain bongos, bred in European zoos as part of an international conservation breeding programme, travelled more than 4,000 miles to help strengthen breeding and rewilding efforts at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC).
Found only in Kenya, the mountain bongo is recognisable by its rust red coat with bold white vertical stripes and long spiral horns. Experts estimate that fewer than 50 individuals remain in the wild as a result of poaching, habitat loss, disease and fragmentation.
The historic translocation, led by experts at Chester Zoo, forms part of a coordinated international initiative involving Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Dr. Nick Davis at Chester Zoo, who coordinates the conservation breeding programme for the Mountain bongo in European zoos, added: “This transfer is the result of years of planning and is a shining example of how zoos can support wildlife recovery in a practical way.
“Through expert human care, international collaboration and a shared commitment to conserving the species in their natural range, we can help secure the long-term future for the mountain bongo.”
Upon arrival on Tuesday 28 April, the animals were welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with an arrival ceremony, officiated by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, alongside KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga and MKWC Patron Humphrey Kariuki.
Speaking at the arrival ceremony, KWS Director General Dr. Erustus Kanga said: “The return of these four individuals reinforces Kenya’s conservation efforts and strengthens our ability to rebuild viable Mountain Bongo populations that are genetically diverse and ecologically resilient.
“Our focus is not only on increasing numbers, but on restoring functional populations capable of thriving independently in secure habitats across the country. This can only be achieved and anchored through sustained investment in species recovery and habitat restoration, guided by science and a long-term vision for conservation outcomes.”
Prior to the transportation, the four male Mountain bongos underwent rigorous veterinary care at Safari Park Dvůr Králové, Czech Republic, that included involvement of two keepers from MKWC to ensure smooth integration of the antelopes to Kenya.
Since 2004, MKWC has developed one of the world’s most successful mountain bongo conservation programmes, achieving a population of more than 100 individuals through breeding, habitat management and deliberate conservation efforts.
MKWC Patron Humphrey Kariuki said the arrival marks a turning point for the conservancy’s breeding and rewilding ambitions: “This is an important milestone for MKWC’s mountain bongo breeding and rewilding programme as we continue to accelerate progress achieved over the years.
“The support of the Government of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service, EAZA, and other international partners has been instrumental in strengthening our conservation efforts.
|These four male bongos will reinforce the existing population of over 100 individuals and enhance breeding capacity, providing an opportunity to expand our breeding herds and bringing us closer to a future where the mountain bongo once again thrives in the wild.”
MKWC’s breeding programme integrates controlled herd structures designed to replicate natural social systems, alongside conditioning that prepares offspring for reintroduction into protected wild habitats.
Kenya aims to grow the mountain bongo population to at least 750 individuals by 2075 under its national recovery strategy for the species, with MKWC playing a central role in breeding, rewilding and habitat restoration efforts.
Pictures by Petr Topič / Safari Park Dvůr Králové
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